Via JMG: Pope: Who Am I To Judge Gay People?

Pope Francis today refused to condemn gay people during a conversation with reporters on his return flight from Brazil.  Via NBC News:

Pope Francis said “who am I to judge?” gay people as he discussed one of the most divisive issues affecting the Catholic Church Monday. “I have yet to find anyone who has a business card that says he is gay,” the pontiff said at a press conference on his plane while returning from Brazil, where he talked about a number of subjects. “They say they exist. If someone is gay, who searches for the Lord and has goodwill, who am I to judge?” he added. The official position of the Catholic Church on the issue is that while homosexual desires or attractions are not in themselves sinful, the physical acts are.

And now we'll get several days of interpretations of what the Pope really meant.
UPDATE: Here the same item as reported by the BBC.  

Pope Francis has said gay people should not be judged or marginalised. Speaking to reporters on a flight back from Brazil, he said: "If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge him?" He also referred to the teachings of the Roman Catholic church, which say that while homosexual acts are sinful, homosexual orientation is not. The Pope's remarks are being seen as much more conciliatory than his predecessor's position on the issue.

UPDATE II: And here's the story from Associated Press, which provides some much needed context.

Pope Francis reached out to gays on Monday, saying he wouldn't judge priests for their sexual orientation in a remarkably open and wide-ranging news conference as he returned from his first foreign trip. "If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?" Francis asked. While stressing Catholic social teaching that calls for homosexuals to be treated with dignity and not marginalized, Francis said it was something else entirely to conspire to use private information for blackmail or to exert pressure. Francis was responding to reports that a trusted aide was involved in an alleged gay tryst a decade ago. He said he investigated the allegations according to canon law and found nothing to back them up. But he took journalists to task for reporting on the matter, saying the allegations concerned matters of sin, not crimes like sexually abusing children.

Labels: Catholic Church, homosexuality, Pope Francis

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JMG HomoQuotable - Nancy Goldstein

"So who on earth does the IOC, or Putin for that matter, think they're kidding with their 'assurances'? Can they really be so entirely naïve or so thoroughly cynical that they don't think non-Russian LGBT people or our allies care about what's been happening to our Russian counterparts in the wake of Putin's edicts so long as our own skins are safe? That we'll just happily ignore last week's news of skinheads luring gay teenagers with an online dating scam, then taping the sessions where they torture them so long as no one blocks our view of the figure skating events? That we can't recognize Third Reich-style politics or bureaucratic complacency? That, per the IOC, 'it remains to be seen whether and how' the recently-passed legislation 'will be implemented'? Gentlemen, guess again." - Nancy Goldstein, writing for the Guardian.

Labels: HomoQuotable, IOC, LGBT rights, Nancy Goldstein, Russia, Sochi Olympics, Vladimir Putin

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New message about Coca-Cola: Don't Sponsor the 2014 Olympics in Anti-Gay Russia!

Get others involved

INVITE FRIENDS

Breaking News: Russian officials have officially announced that the law banning 'gay propaganda' will apply to all visitors - including those who will be attending and participating in the 2014 Olympic Games this February. 

This means that any visitor who demonstrates gay pride or who is even assumed to be gay could be arrested by Russian authorities. We cannot let large companies like Coca-Cola support these discriminatory laws!

We need your help in spreading the word. Invite your friends to help us reach our goal of 10,000 signatures and we will deliver them to Coca-Cola's CEO Muhtar Kent!

Credit: Gay Star News

Want to get involved? See this petition on Causes

Via JMG: USCIS Updates FAQs On Gay Marriage

 

The USCIS has updated their FAQs page on same-sex marriage. Here are the first two questions:

Q1: I am a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident in a same-sex marriage to a foreign national. Can I now sponsor my spouse for a family-based immigrant visa? A1: Yes, you can file the petition. You may file a Form I-130 (and any applicable accompanying application). Your eligibility to petition for your spouse, and your spouse’s admissibility as an immigrant at the immigration visa application or adjustment of status stage, will be determined according to applicable immigration law and will not be automatically denied as a result of the same-sex nature of your marriage.

Q2. I am a U.S. citizen who is engaged to be married to a foreign national of the same sex.  Can I file a fiancé or fiancée petition for him or her?
A2. Yes.  You may file a Form I-129F.  As long as all other immigration requirements are met, a same-sex engagement may allow your fiancé to enter the United States for marriage.

(Tipped by JMG reader Lynda)

Labels: DOMA, feds, immigration, marriage equality

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JMG Full Service

 

Marketing blog The Drum reports: "The Pembrokeshire Herald has apologised after someone tampered with an Enterprise Rent-A-Car ad to suggest that ‘cock sucking’ was an added bonus of the service. It is not."

Labels: advertising, Britain, silliness

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Via JMG: National Gallup Poll: 52% Back Marriage

 

Gallup reports that if a national referendum on same-sex marriage were held in November, a slim majority of American would back it.

Across the nation's major demographic, political, and religious groups, support for the proposed law ranges from as high as 77% among self-described liberal Americans, and 76% among those with no religious affiliation, to as low as 23% among weekly churchgoers, and 30% among Republicans and conservatives. Other groups showing at least 60% support for legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide include Democrats, adults aged 18 to 34, those who rarely or never attend a church or other place of worship, moderates, Easterners, and Catholics. Others showing less than 50% support include Protestants, adults 55 and older, Southerners, and men.

Hit the link for a more detail breakdown of the demos.

Labels: Gallup, marriage equality, polls

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Via Tricycle Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma July 28, 2013

The Principles of Zazen

Eat and drink moderately. Cast aside all involvements and cease all affairs. Do not think good or bad. Do not administer pros and cons. Cease all the movements of the conscious mind, the gauging of all thoughts and views. Have no designs on becoming a buddha. Zazen has nothing whatever to do with sitting or lying down.

- Zen Master Dogen, "The Principles of Zazen"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through July 29, 2013
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Via JMG: Harvey Fierstein On Orson Scott Card

"Look at that asshole [Orson Scott Card] that wrote this new Harrison Ford movie [Ender's Game]. I think that you can have any opinion you want, but at least be willing to take the consequences of your opinion. It’s like, 'Well, I hope that people will be more understanding,' or what did he say? 'More tolerant of my views.' The quotes that got me about him weren’t against gay marriage -- he wanted homosexuality criminalized in the United States. That's what he called for. You want me to be tolerant of you wanting to criminalize homosexuality? Fuck you on your grave, you piece of shit." - Harvey Fierstein, telling it like it is to the Hollywood Reporter. 

Labels: Broadway, gay artists, Harvey Fierstein, Hollywood, movies, NOM, Orson Scott Card

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Via JMG: Canada Updates Russia Travel Advice

 

From Canada's just updated travel advisory for Russia:

Although homosexual activity is not illegal in Russia, a federal law has been passed that prohibits public actions that are described as promoting homosexuality and “non-traditional sexual relations”. This law could render any homosexual and pro-homosexual statements punishable. Public actions (including dissemination of information, statements, displays or conspicuous behaviour) that contravene or appear to contravene this law may lead to arrest, the imposition of a fine and deportation. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender travellers, as well as their friends and families, have been targets of harassment and violence.

RELATED: The US State Department's advisory for Russia contains warnings about "harassment, threats, and acts of violence" against LGBT people, but does not yet note the recent passage of the national ban on "homosexual propaganda." It does note the passage of the earlier regional bans.

Labels: Canada, Russia, State Department, tourism

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Via JMG: Quote Of The Day - Scott Shackford

Quote Of The Day - Scott Shackford

"What’s sad about this effort is that if Russia succeeds in getting its hands back on Stoli, then a boycott actually makes sense. But the consequence will be that a powerful businessman who does support the gay community will lose his company. Boycotting Stoli now is a very bad idea. [Stoli owner Yuri] Scheffler is an ally who the gay and lesbian community needs to work with, not alienate. From a Western perspective it may be hard to realize that an incredibly rich person like Scheffler has the potential to be a victim of Russia’s authoritarian regime like its gay citizens or members of Pussy Riot, but it’s extremely important not to look at the nature of power and influence there the way we do here." - Scott Shackford, writing for Reason.  The entire essay is worth your time.

Labels: boycotts, LGBT rights, Russia, Stoli

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Via JMG: HRC: The IOC Shouldn't Trust Russia

Via press release from the Human Rights Campaign:

Mere verbal assurances from the Russian government that foreigners will be exempt from their repressive laws are not enough,” said Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President Chad Griffin. “The IOC must obtain ironclad written assurance from President Putin. But more importantly, they should be advocating for the safety of all LGBT people in Russia, not simply those visiting for the Olympics. Rescinding this heinous law must be our collective goal.”
In June, a law banning "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations" was passed by Russia’s Federal Assembly and signed into law by President Vladimir Putin. Under the guise of protecting children from "homosexual propaganda," the law imposes fines or jail time to citizens who disseminate information that may cause a "distorted understanding" that LGBT and heterosexual relationships are "socially equivalent." The fines are significantly higher if such information is distributed through the media or Internet.

The HRC is responding to this story.

Labels: Chad Griffin, HRC, IOC, LGBT rights, Olympics, Russia, Sochi Olympics, sports

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Via JMG: Quote Of The Day - Desmond Tutu

Yesterday I reported that the United Nation's had launched a global campaign for the LGBT rights during a meeting in South Africa.  At the launch announcement was Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

South Africa's Nobel peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu says he will never worship a "homophobic God" and will rather go to hell. The retired archbishop was speaking at the launch of a UN-backed campaign in South Africa to promote gay rights. Archbishop Tutu said the campaign against homophobia was similar to the campaign waged against racism in South Africa. "I am as passionate about this campaign as I ever was about apartheid. For me, it is at the same level," he added.

(Image via Memeographs)

Labels: Desmond Tutu, religion, United Nations

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Via JMG: NBC Responds To IOC Statement

Yesterday the International Olympic Committee released a statement declaring that it had "received assurances from the highest levels" of the Russian government that athletes and fans would be exempt from arrest under the "homosexual propaganda" law during the Sochi Olympics. Buzzfeed's Chris Geidner reached out to NBC for a statement:

“NBCUniversal strongly supports equal rights and the fair treatment for all people. The spirit of the Olympic Games is about unifying people and countries through the celebration of sport and it is our hope that spirit will prevail,” NBCUniversal senior vice president of corporate communications Cameron Blanchard told BuzzFeed Friday evening. Human Rights Campaign had raised questions about the coverage plans in a letter to NBC officials earlier this week, with HRC president Chad Griffin writing, “NBCUniversal … has a unique opportunity — and a responsibility — to expose this inhumane and unjust law to the millions of American viewers who will tune in to watch the Games.”

Geidner reports that NBC noted that the Olympics are still seven months away and that "specific coverage plans are yet to be finalized." Let's hope that coverage includes much more than the above blanket statement of support.

Labels: IOC, NBC, Russia, Sochi Olympics

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Via Tricycle Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma July 27, 2013

Make the First Move

Usually we are in a stalemate with our world: 'Is he going to say he is sorry to me first, or am I going to apologize to him first?' But in becoming a bodhisattva we break that barrier: we do not wait for the other person to make the first move; we have decided to do it ourselves.

- Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, "The Bodhisattva Vow: Eight Views"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through July 28, 2013
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Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma July 24, 2013

Practicing with Loss

Loss is a fact of life. Impermanence is everywhere we look. We are all going to suffer our losses. How we deal with these losses is what makes all the difference. For it is not what happens to us that determines our character, our experience, our karma, and our destiny, but how we relate to what happens.

- Lama Surya Das, "Practicing with Loss"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through July 25, 2013
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Via JMG: NEW MEXICO: AG Tells State Supreme Court He Won't Defend Marriage Ban

 

New Mexico Attorney General Gary King yesterday told the state Supreme Court that he will not defend a lawsuit calling for the legalization of same-sex marriage.

In written arguments filed with the court, King said the justices should invalidate the state’s ban on gay marriage if they agree to resolve the issue in a lawsuit filed by two Santa Fe men who were denied a marriage license. King, a Democrat who plans to run for governor next year against Republican Gov. Susana Martinez, said New Mexico law effectively doesn’t allow gay marriages although there’s no statutory provision that specifically prohibits, or authorizes, gay couples to be married. “New Mexico’s guarantee of equal protection to its citizens demands that same-sex couples be permitted to enjoy the benefits of marriage in the same way and to the same extent as other New Mexico citizens,” King said in the filing.

The state Supreme Court had asked King to respond to the lawsuit, but in yesterday's response, King also said the couple's case should be rejected because it had improperly bypassed lower courts and would set a precedent for direct actions to the high court. Earlier this month the ACLU and the National Center for Lesbian Rights also filed a lawsuit on behalf of six gay couples asking the state Supreme Court to clarify whether same-sex couples can marry in New Mexico.
RELATED: Back in March the mayor of Santa Fe declared that there is nothing in state law than bans same-sex couples from marrying.

Labels: lawsuits, marriage equality, New Mexico

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Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma July 23, 2013

Equality

We are not born equal, are not created equal. We are born different, and live different, and die different, because of our different karma. But there are certain areas where things become equal. There is no difference in the attainment of enlightenment. When we attain nirvana, we all are equal.

- Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, "Going Upstream"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through July 24, 2013
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Via JMG: HomoQuotable - Harvey Fierstein

"Mr. Putin’s campaign against lesbian, gay and bisexual people is one of distraction, a strategy of demonizing a minority for political gain taken straight from the Nazi playbook. Can we allow this war against human rights to go unanswered? Although Mr. Putin may think he can control his creation, history proves he cannot: his condemnations are permission to commit violence against gays and lesbians. Last week a young gay man was murdered in the city of Volgograd. He was beaten, his body violated with beer bottles, his clothing set on fire, his head crushed with a rock. This is most likely just the beginning. [snip]

"With Russia about to hold the Winter Games in Sochi, the country is open to pressure. American and world leaders must speak out against Mr. Putin’s attacks and the violence they foster. The Olympic Committee must demand the retraction of these laws under threat of boycott. In 1936 the world attended the Olympics in Germany. Few participants said a word about Hitler’s campaign against the Jews. Supporters of that decision point proudly to the triumph of Jesse Owens, while I point with dread to the Holocaust and world war. There is a price for tolerating intolerance." - Harvey Fierstein, writing for the New York Times.

Labels: activism, Harvey Fierstein, HomoQuotable, LGBT rights, Olympics, Russia, Sochi Olympics, sports, Vladimir Putin

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Via JMG: COLOMBIA: High Court Rebukes Campaign To Block Same-Sex Marriages

 

Colombia's Constitutional Court has told Inspector General Alejandro Ordóñez to drop his campaign to block same-sex marriages. J. Lester Feder reports at Buzzfeed:

Ordoñez had been threatening disciplinary action against any official who took up this authority. His case was based on the fact that the court’s ruling did not specifically say that couples can “marry,” nor did it directly change the law. Instead, it gave congress until June 20, 2013 to change the law to give equal rights to same-sex couples. The 2011 ruling only gives the power directly to judges and notaries because congress failed to act, and ambiguity in the ruling left it unclear whether they will call these unions “marriages” or something else entirely. On Friday, the court rejected Ordoñez’s petition for it to clarify that it did not intend to open marriage to same-sex couples. And Constitutional Court President Jorge Iván Palacio sternly warned Ordoñez to “observe the determinations of this Court and monitor their strict and timely compliance.”

Feder notes that the Court has still not clarified the murky wording of their 2011 ruling. LGBT activists, however, are taking their message to Ordóñez as a very positive sign.
RELATED: Same-sex marriage is legal in the South American nations of Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina.

Labels: Colombia, marriage equality, South America

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